PCN from NCP - company car - wrong reg used to pay

UpITA

I would like to take your opinion on my situation:
- A company car - NCP car park
- It was a new car. I used the app to pay for parking, but I mistakenly used my old car registration number that was saved on the app.
- I received the PCN- I think that the car park company contacted my fleet management company and they gave them my information.
[at that point, I had no idea about this forum and the detailed guidance on how to deal with these PCNs]
- I made an appeal on NCP's online system and I explained the situation and sent them a screenshot of the payment receipt. If I remember correctly, as part of the online appeal process, I had to give a confirmation that I was the driver.
- My appeal was not accepted, but they decided to reduce the charge, and I have to pay only the admin fee (I think it was around £20). In retrospect, I'm not sure if I should've just accepted this outcome and paid the £20, but I thought that they were very unreasonable since I have actually paid, and I thought that POPLA would be fairer. So I appealed, and again it was not successful, and I was asked to pay the full PCN amount.
- At this stage, I thought that I had no other option but to pay. I tried to look up the PCN again on the system so I can pay the charge, but it disappeared. I tried several times on different days. So I just ignored it.
- After a while, I started receiving letters from Trace debt collectors.
[This is when I came across the guidance here. I decided to follow the guidance and didn't respond or call them
- I understand that I should respond when I receive a "letter before claim" or similar. Below is the most recent letter I received.
These are my questions:
1- Is this considered the "letter before claim"? It's from the debt collector, so I assume not.
2- Would I have a chance if they actually make a claim? Or should I just pay now to avoid extra charges?

Coupon-mad

Ignore Trace.

They are using a CCJ as a frightener, in a completely misleading way and out of context. You can't just "get a CCJ" but their letter makes it look that way.

See post 4 of the NEWBIES thread for pictures of the £170 threatogram letters to ignore, and then see post 2 of the NEWBIES thread for what not to ignore.

You'll never pay this so stop trying!